Device for the sectional application of liquor to a fabric web

ABSTRACT

A device for the sectional application of liquor to a running fabric web includes an applicator roll that has liquor applied to it which, during the application of the liquor to the fabric web is located lying against the fabric web. A removal device is provided, with which the liquor is able to be removed section by section from the applicator roll in the longitudinal direction of the applicator roll and/or an application device is provided, with which the liquor is able to be applied section by section onto the applicator roll.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

European Published Patent Application No. 1 621 257 is expressly incorporated herein in its entirety by reference thereto.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for the sectional application of liquor to a running fabric web.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Such devices, which are also referred to as “kiss-roll applicators,” are used especially if small amounts of liquor have to be applied to the fabric web.

In specific embodiments of these devices, the application of liquor takes place in that the rotary driven applicator roll dips into the liquor located in a basin, and using a part of its circumference, scoops up or carries along small quantities of liquor onto its surface because of the rotation, and thus conveys it to the advancing fabric web that lies against the applicator roll.

The quantity of liquor applied per area of the fabric web is determined by the rotary speed of the applicator roll. Thus, there is a slippage between the applicator roll and the fabric web. The greater the rotary speed, the greater will be the quantity of applied liquor per fabric web area, if the latter is moved at constant speed.

Using such devices, one may endeavor also to apply liquor to the fabric web in zone-wise fashion, so that stripes come about that extend in the web's traveling direction.

With regard to this point, it is believed to be conventional that one may cover the applicator roll in zone-wise fashion in the direction of the fabric web, so that the applicator roll, and consequently also the liquor conveyed by it, do not come into contact with the fabric web.

What is believed to be disadvantageous in these devices is that the stripes, in which the liquor was applied to the fabric web, and those in which application of liquor does not take place, are not sharply separated from one another. It is also believed that such devices rapidly become soiled in the area of the covering. The danger is believed to exist that, at the roll surface, stripe-shaped contours are created by different coefficients of friction between the roll and the covering on the one hand, and the roll and the fabric web on the other hand. It is believed to be of disadvantage that, during operation, changes in the width of the stripes cannot be made.

SUMMARY

Example embodiments of the present invention may provide a device for the sectional application of liquor onto a running fabric web such that its operability with respect to disadvantages mentioned above may be improved.

Because removal device(s) are provided, with which the liquor is able to be removed section by section from the applicator roll in the longitudinal direction of the applicator roll and/or application device(s) are provided, with which the liquor is able to be applied section by section onto the applicator roll, in the longitudinal direction of the applicator roll, coverings that are conventionally provided may be eliminated.

The fabric web lies against the applicator roll over its entire width, even during the sectional application. The above-mentioned device(s) which are able to be used alternatively or also in combination may, however, provide that only those sections of the applicator roll carry liquor in which the fabric web is supposed to receive liquor stripes.

The removal device(s) may include a row of doctor blades extending in the longitudinal direction of the applicator roll, the individual doctor blades being able, optionally or independently of one another, to be brought to lie against the working circumference of the applicator roll, or being able to be lifted off from it. The doctor blades, in this instance, may be arranged conventionally.

The removal device(s) may include a row of air jets that extend in the longitudinal direction of the applicator roll, the individual air jets being able optionally to have a gaseous medium applied to them. Compressed air may be used as the gaseous medium.

The application device(s) that are able to be used alternatively or in addition may include a row of application nozzles, the application nozzles being able to have liquor applied to them, optionally or independently of one another. This may provide that it is technically relatively costly, since all the nozzles may have to be designed to be able to be turned off and on individually.

Therefore, the application device(s) may include a row of application rockers extending in the longitudinal direction of the applicator roll, the application rockers being able to be tilted optionally independently of one another between a position in which liquor is supplied to the applicator roll via the application rocker, and a position in which the liquor is not supplied to the applicator roll. In this instance, the supply of the liquor to the application rockers takes place continuously. In the sections in which no liquor is supposed to reach the feed roller, the application rocker is tilted such that the liquor conveyed to it does not reach the applicator roll, but is, for example, directly fed back to a circulation system.

The application device, which operates on the same principle as the one described above, instead of the application rockers may include a row of discharge openings extending in the longitudinal direction of the applicator roll, the discharge openings being able to be displaced, independently of one another, between two positions such that in the one position the liquor is supplied to the applicator roll, and in the other position it is not supplied to the applicator roll.

The displaceability of the discharge openings may be implemented, for example, in that the discharge opening is formed by the opening of a flexible hose element, which is able optionally to be directed towards the applicator roll or away from it.

The application device(s) may include a row of liquor-transporting screen rolls, the screen rolls, optionally and independently of one another, being displaceable between a position in which they are located lying against the applicator roll and a position in which they are located not lying against the applicator roll.

The application device(s) may include reservoirs or basins which are optionally able to be displaced between an operating position in which the applicator roll, using a part of its circumference, dips into the liquor located in the reservoir, and an at-rest position in which the applicator roll does not dip into the liquor with its circumference. A liquor application takes place specifically only in the areas in which stripes of applied liquor are to be achieved on the advancing fabric web, without a sectional covering of the roll, having disadvantages mentioned above, being required for this.

The reservoirs may have an inside contour which extends concentrically with the outer circumference of the applicator roll, as seen from the side. Thus, a particularly even application of liquor may be possible in the desired section. This effect may be based in that between the outer circumference of the roll and the reservoir floor the same distance prevails over the area of the applicator roll dipping into the liquor.

A device may also be provided by which the liquid level is held approximately constant, that is, the quantity of the liquor scooped up by the web is replenished. Such devices may be conventional.

In order to provide a sharp lateral limitation of the areas, in which the liquor is supposed to be applied to the fabric web, the reservoirs may have at their lateral edges, that is, edges that are aligned parallel to the fabric web traveling direction, sealing devices which lie sealingly against the roll circumference in the operating situation of the reservoirs. The edges of the sealing devices lying against the applicator roll may be lined with a friction-reducing material, such as Teflon, in order to avoid creating wear marks on the roll circumference, which may reduce the quality of the sectional application of the liquor.

In order to be able to displace the reservoirs between the operating position and the at-rest position, the reservoirs may be arranged at the free end of the lever of a rocker system. By the use of this measure, the reservoir is brought into its operating position in which, using suitable longitudinal adjusters, for example, piston/cylinder units which are able to be activated hydraulically or pneumatically, and is displaced upwardly, until the sealing systems are located so as to lie against the circumference of the applicator rolls. If a liquor application is not desired in a section defined by a reservoir, the reservoir may, again by appropriate operation of the longitudinal adjuster, be lowered so far that the roll is no longer dipping into the liquor.

Below the reservoirs, there may be arranged a collecting reservoir, starting from which liquor exiting from the other reservoirs is merged and, e.g., is supplied to a device for reusing and conditioning it.

The reservoirs may be arranged displaceably in the longitudinal direction of the roll, in order thus to be able to register different stripe patterns on the web. In order to be able to vary the width of the stripes in which the fabric web has liquor applied to it, the lateral sealing device of a reservoir may be positioned displaceable with respect to one another in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the roll.

According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a device for sectional application of liquor to a running fabric web includes: an applicator roll adapted to have liquor applied to it, which lies against the fabric web during the application of the liquor to the fabric web; and at least one (a) a removal device adapted to remove the liquor section by section from the applicator roll in a longitudinal direction of the applicator roll and (b) an application device adapted to apply the liquor section by section onto the applicator roll.

The removal device may include a row of doctor blades that extend in the longitudinal direction of the applicator roll.

The removal device may include a row of doctor blades that extend in the longitudinal direction of the applicator roll, and individual doctor blades, optionally and independently of one another, may be arranged at least one of (a) to be brought to lie against the applicator roll and (b) to be lifted off from it.

The removal device may include a row of air jets that extend in the longitudinal direction of the applicator roll.

The removal device may include a row of air jets that extend in the longitudinal direction of the applicator roll, and the individual air jets, optionally and independently of one another, may be adapted to have a gaseous medium that is under pressure applied thereto.

The removal device may include a row of application nozzles.

The removal device may include a row of application nozzles, and the application nozzles, optionally and independently of one another, may be adapted to have liquor applied to them.

The application device may include a row of application rockers that extend in the longitudinal direction of the applicator roll.

The application device may include a row of application rockers that extend in the longitudinal direction of the applicator roll, and the application rockers, optionally and independently of one another, may be pivotable between a position in which liquor is supplied to the applicator roll via the application rocker and a position in which the liquor is not supplied to the applicator roll.

The application device may include a row of release openings extending in the longitudinal direction of the applicator roll, from which the liquor is releaseable.

The application device may include a row of release openings extending in the longitudinal direction of the applicator roll, from which the liquor is releaseable, and the release openings displaceable, independently of one another, between two positions such that the liquor is supplied to the applicator roll in a first position and that in a second position the liquor is not supplied to the applicator roll.

The release openings may be formed by open ends of flexible hoses.

The application device may include a row of screen rolls adapted to transport the liquor, that extend in the longitudinal direction of the applicator roll.

The application device may include a row of screen rolls adapted to transport the liquor, that extend in the longitudinal direction of the applicator roll, and the screen rolls, optionally and independently of one another, may be displaceable between a position in which they lie against the applicator roll, and a position in which they do not lie against the applicator roll.

The application device may include a row of reservoirs, that extends in the longitudinal direction of the applicator roll, adapted to accommodate the liquor, and the reservoirs may be displaceable between an operating position in which the applicator roll dips into the liquor using a part of its outer circumference, and an at-rest position in which the applicator roll does not dip into the liquor. The device may include a seal device, and, in the operating position, at least lateral edges of the reservoirs may lie against a circumference of the applicator roll in a sealingly acting manner.

The reservoirs may be shell-shaped, and in the operating position, inside contours of the reservoirs may extend concentrically with the circumference of the applicator roll.

The device may include a collection reservoir adapted to catch liquor that exits from the reservoirs.

The collection reservoir may include an outlet adapted to release liquor that has been caught.

Each reservoir may be supported at an arm of a rocker system.

The reservoirs may be displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the applicator roll.

According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a device for sectional application of liquor to a running fabric web includes: an applicator roll adapted to have liquor applied to it, which lies against the fabric web during the application of the liquor to the fabric web; and at least one (a) removing means for removing the liquor section by section from the applicator roll in a longitudinal direction of the applicator roll and (b) applying means for applying the liquor section by section onto the applicator roll.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 to 8 illustrate devices of exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Device 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes an applicator roll 1 whose working circumference 2 dips into liquor 4 over angular length 3, the liquor being located in a reservoir 5. Applicator roll 1 is coupled to a rotary drive device 6, which puts it into rotation in the direction of arrow P. While working circumference 2 of applicator roll 1 passes through the reservoir, liquor 4 is scooped up and is thus transported to a fabric web W that advances in the direction of arrow Q, which is brought to lie against working circumference 2 by two guide rolls U in angular range 7.

Device 100 also includes a doctor blade system 8, which is made up of two doctor blade rows 9, 10 optionally acting at different places of working circumference 2. In the longitudinal direction of applicator roll 1, each doctor blade row 9, 10 is subdivided into a plurality of individual doctor blades having a width of, for example, 10 mm. The individual doctor blades are able to be displaced independently of one another between a setting in which liquor 4 scooped up by the working circumference is removed (illustrated as a solid line in the drawing) and a position in which fluid removal is not effected (illustrated as a dashed line in the drawing).

In order to achieve a certain stripe pattern on fabric web W, the individual doctor blades are brought to lie against working circumference 2 on applicator roll 1 as needed, or moved away from it. Thus, a stripe pattern may be produced in a screening of 10 mm.

FIG. 2 illustrates a device 200 according to an example embodiment of the present invention. It is described only as to its differences from device 100 described with reference to FIG. 1.

In device 200, instead of doctor blade system 8, a blower system 11 is provided which includes a row of nozzles that extends in the longitudinal direction of applicator roll 1. Each row of nozzles may optionally have applied to it a gaseous medium that is under pressure, e.g., compressed air. The row of nozzles is aligned with working circumference 2 of applicator roll 1 such that gas flowing out of a nozzle, under pressure, removes from working circumference 2 liquor 4, located on working circumference 2 of applicator roll 1, in the area where the gas stream impinges, and consequently, in this area no liquor reaches fabric web W. Because the individual nozzles are able, independently of one another, optionally to have applied to them gaseous media that are under pressure, using the resolution of the effective area of one nozzle, any desired stripe patterns are able to be generated on the fabric web.

In the exemplary embodiments of the devices 300 to 700 illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 8, excess fluid that is already located on the applicator roll is not removed again section by section by suitable devices, but rather the liquor is only applied at those places where it is required for producing the liquor stripes on the fabric web.

To do this, device 300 illustrated in FIG. 3 has an application nozzle system 12, which includes a row of application nozzles 13 extending in the longitudinal direction of applicator roll 1, which are, independently of one another, optionally able to have liquor applied to them such that they then release the liquor onto applicator roll 1, according to their effective width.

In this device, working circumference 2 of applicator roll 1 does not run through a liquor bath, but underneath applicator roll 1 there is a catch reservoir 14, starting from which excess liquor is able to be supplied to a circulating system, for example, as is indicated by arrow R.

In device 400 illustrated in FIG. 4, the application of the liquor onto applicator roll 1 also takes place sectionally. However, in this example, individual nozzles do not have liquor applied to them, but rather, the liquor runs over a release device 15 extending over the entire length of the applicator roll onto a rocker system 16, which includes a row of individual rockers 17 that extend in the longitudinal direction of applicator roll 1. These individual rockers, whose width may amount to, e.g., 10 mm, may be swiveled between the position indicated by a solid line in FIG. 4, in which the liquor supplied by release device 15 is released to the working circumference at applicator roll 1, and a position indicated by a dashed line in FIG. 4, in which the released liquor directly reaches catch reservoir 14.

In device 500 illustrated in FIG. 5, the sectional supplying of the liquor takes place in that a release device includes a row of individual, flexible hoses 17 that extend in the longitudinal direction of applicator roll 1, which are displaced between the application position, indicated by dashed lines in FIG. 5, in which the liquor is supplied to working circumference 2 of applicator roll 1, and the position indicated by a solid line in FIG. 5, in which the liquor goes directly into catch reservoir 14, as is also indicated by arrow T. In order to avoid that undesired liquor reaches working circumference 2 of applicator roll 1 in the position of hose 17 indicated by the solid line, a baffle plate 18 is provided in catch reservoir 14.

In device 600 illustrated in FIG. 6, a liquor bath is again used. However, applicator roll 1 does not dip into it, but rather a series of screen rolls 19 do, which, for example, may have an effective width of, e.g., 10 mm. Screen rolls 19 are able to be displaced, using a lever system 20 supported at location S, between the application position illustrated in FIG. 6 and a position in which the lying of screen roll 19 and working circumference 2 of applicator roll 1 does not take place.

Device 700 illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 includes an applicator roll 31, whose working circumference 32 dips into liquor 34 over angular length 33, and which is located in a reservoir 35, whose floor 36 runs concentrically to working circumference 32 of applicator roll 31 in the operating position illustrated in FIG. 7.

Applicator roll 31 is coupled to a rotary drive device, which puts it into rotation in the direction of arrow P. While working circumference 32 of applicator roll 31 passes through the reservoir, liquor 34 is scooped up and is thus transported to a fabric web W that advances in the direction of arrow Q, which is brought to lie against working circumference 32 by two guide rolls U in angular range 37.

Reservoirs 35, of which in FIGS. 7 and 8 only one is illustrated in schematic form in each case, are supported at the ends of a lever 38 of a rocker system 39. Rocker system 39 is able to be pivoted about a pivot axis T that extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of applicator roll 31, supported in a machine frame. The free end of the other lever 40 of rocker system 39 is coupled to a longitudinal adjuster, indicated in the drawing only by an arrow V, which may be arranged as a hydraulically operated piston/cylinder unit. Using longitudinal adjuster 41, respective reservoir 35 may be displaced, while pivoting rocker system 39, between an upper operating position, illustrated in the drawing, and a lower at-rest position in which working circumference 32 of applicator roll 31 is not in contact with liquor 34.

As indicated by double arrow Y, reservoirs 35 are able to be displaced in the direction of the longitudinal axis of applicator roll 31, in order to be able to change the stripe pattern applied to fabric web W.

Reservoirs 35 have side edges 42, 43, which, in the operating position, lie in a sealing manner against the outer circumference of applicator roll 31. In order to be able to vary the width of the stripes applied to the fabric web, using respective reservoirs 35, side edges 42, 43 are arranged at respective reservoir 35 displaceable in the direction of double arrows X

By setting the clearance of the two side edges 42, 43 and a reservoir 35 and the positioning of the reservoirs in the direction of the longitudinal axis of applicator roll 31, almost any stripe pattern may be able to be applied to an advancing fabric web W, reliably and in a simple manner.

It should be understood that fluid scooped up by the fabric web from the reservoirs may have to be replenished. In order to accomplish this, conventional devices may be provided, which record the instantaneous liquid level in the assigned reservoir, and which effect the addition of new liquor when its level drops. 

1. A device for sectional application of liquor to a running fabric web, comprising: an applicator roll adapted to have liquor applied to it, which lies against the fabric web during the application of the liquor to the fabric web; and at least one (a) a removal device adapted to remove the liquor section by section from the applicator roll in a longitudinal direction of the applicator roll and (b) an application device adapted to apply the liquor section by section onto the applicator roll.
 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the removal device includes a row of doctor blades that extend in the longitudinal direction of the applicator roll.
 3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the removal device includes a row of doctor blades that extend in the longitudinal direction of the applicator roll, individual doctor blades, optionally and independently of one another, arranged at least one of (a) to be brought to lie against the applicator roll and (b) to be lifted off from it.
 4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the removal device includes a row of air jets that extend in the longitudinal direction of the applicator roll.
 5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the removal device includes a row of air jets that extend in the longitudinal direction of the applicator roll, the individual air jets, optionally and independently of one another, adapted to have a gaseous medium that is under pressure applied thereto.
 6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the removal device includes a row of application nozzles.
 7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the removal device includes a row of application nozzles, the application nozzles, optionally and independently of one another, adapted to have liquor applied to them.
 8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the application device includes a row of application rockers that extend in the longitudinal direction of the applicator roll.
 9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the application device includes a row of application rockers that extend in the longitudinal direction of the applicator roll, the application rockers, optionally and independently of one another, pivotable between a position in which liquor is supplied to the applicator roll via the application rocker and a position in which the liquor is not supplied to the applicator roll.
 10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the application device includes a row of release openings extending in the longitudinal direction of the applicator roll, from which the liquor is releaseable.
 11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the application device includes a row of release openings extending in the longitudinal direction of the applicator roll, from which the liquor is releaseable, the release openings displaceable, independently of one another, between two positions such that the liquor is supplied to the applicator roll in a first position and that in a second position the liquor is not supplied to the applicator roll.
 12. The device according to claim 10, wherein the release openings are formed by open ends of flexible hoses.
 13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the application device includes a row of screen rolls adapted to transport the liquor, that extend in the longitudinal direction of the applicator roll.
 14. The device according to claim 1, wherein the application device includes a row of screen rolls adapted to transport the liquor, that extend in the longitudinal direction of the applicator roll, the screen rolls, optionally and independently of one another, displaceable between a position in which they lie against the applicator roll, and a position in which they do not lie against the applicator roll.
 15. The device according to claim 1, wherein the application device includes a row of reservoirs, that extends in the longitudinal direction of the applicator roll, adapted to accommodate the liquor, the reservoirs displaceable between an operating position in which the applicator roll dips into the liquor using a part of its outer circumference, and an at-rest position in which the applicator roll does not dip into the liquor, the device further comprising a seal device, in the operating position, at least lateral edges of the reservoirs lie against a circumference of the applicator roll in a sealingly acting manner.
 16. The device according to claim 15, wherein the reservoirs are shell-shaped, in the operating position, inside contours of the reservoirs extend concentrically with the circumference of the applicator roll.
 17. The device according to claim 15, further comprising a collection reservoir adapted to catch liquor that exits from the reservoirs.
 18. The device according to claim 17, wherein the collection reservoir includes an outlet adapted to release liquor that has been caught.
 19. The device according to claim 15, wherein each reservoir is supported at an arm of a rocker system.
 20. The device according to claim 19, wherein the reservoirs are displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the applicator roll.
 21. A device for sectional application of liquor to a running fabric web, comprising: an applicator roll adapted to have liquor applied to it, which lies against the fabric web during the application of the liquor to the fabric web; and at least one (a) removing means for removing the liquor section by section from the applicator roll in a longitudinal direction of the applicator roll and (b) applying means for applying the liquor section by section onto the applicator roll. 